Otoscope



. 26, 1939. A. F. DITTMER OTOSCOPE Filed April 20, 1938 27 as F|G.5

ARTHUR F. DIITTMER ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 26, 1939 OTOSCOPE Arthur F. Dittmer, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Bausch & Lomb Optical Company. Rochester, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application April 20, 19 8, Serial No. 203,123

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to diagnostic instruments and more particularly to self-illuminated diagnostic instruments such as otoscopes, laryngoscopes and the like.

One of the objects of thepresent invention is to provide a diagnostic instrument which is simple in construction yet convenient and rugged in operation. Another object is to provide a selfilluminated otoscope in which the illuminating system and speculum are relatively rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the speculum passing substantially through the end of the speculum. A further obiect is to provide a self-illuminated otoscope in which the speculum and illuminant are relatively movable while the illumination is always directed to the end of the speculum. Still another object is to provide a diagnostic instrument with a movable speculum such that pressure exerted on the end of the speculum will not cause movement thereof. Still another object is to provide a selfilluminated combined otoscope and laryngoscope in which the light beam is always directed toward the area under observation. These and other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the head of a diagnostic instrument embodying the present invention. I

Fig. 2 is a similar View with parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of same.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the instrument head with the speculum slide removed.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the instrument head arranged as a laryngoscope.

The diagnostic instrument illustrated in the drawing as the preferred embodiment of my invention consists of the usual handle Ill provided with the usual rheostat l l. The upper end of the handle 10 is reduced and is secured within the sleeve l2 of the instrument head I 3 by a screw l2, in a manner known in the art. Within the head IS, a conductor l4, protected by insulation I 5, extends upward into contact with the base of a lamp bulb it which is threaded into the head I3. A sleeve ll carrying a condensing lens l8 slidably engages the bulb l6 to focus the light.

Mounted within a recess I9 in the head l3, and enclosing the lamp bulb l6, sleeve 11 and lens I8, is a tubular housing 20. A right angle prism 2| is secured at the upper end of the housing 20 to direct the beam of light from the lamp l6 out-- ward along an axis substantially perpendicular I to the axis of the housing 20. These two axes are not necessarily perpendicular. In fact, I find it desirable tomount the prism 2| so as to deflect the light beam from the lamp I6 through an angle between and degrees.

A tubular aural speculum 22 is secured in a ring 23 which is in turn fixed to a fiat plate 24. The plate 24 is provided at itsrear end with a tapered, arcuate, bearing projection 25 which engages in a complementary tapered, arcuate, bearing groove 26 in a support 21. This support 21 extends outwardly from the upper end of the head I3 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the housing 20. A screw 28 is threaded through the support 21 and extends upwardly from the bottom of the groove 26 through an arcuate slot 29 in the plate 24 and projection 25. A nut 30 is threaded on the screw 28 and engages a washer 3| which, in turn, engages the plate 24 to lock the plate 24 relative to the support 21.

As shown in- Fig. 3, thearc of the projection 25 and groove 26 has a radius .R and its axis lies at the end of the speculum 22. This arrangement has several desirable features. In the first place, the-position of the front end of the speculum 22; is always the same relative to the light beam regardless of the relative angular positions of the speculum. Thus, once the instrument is fixed so that the light beam falls on the opening at the front end of the speculum 22, it will always fall there no matter where the speculum 22 is moved on the arcuate bearings 25 and 26. Furthermore, as the front end, or body engaging part of the speculum 22 is at the center of rotation of the speculum, side thrusts and pressures on the end of the speculum will have little, if any, tendency to disturb the adjustment of the speculum 22 on the support 21.

Secured to the bottom of the support 21 by screws 32 is a spatula clamp 33 for receiving a spatula or tongue depressor 34'. This clamp 33 is inclined upward at a small angle so that the end of the spatula 34 is at the bottom of the light beam as shown in Fig. 5. Of course, when the instrument is thus used as a laryngoscope, the. speculum 22 is removed from the ring 23.

It is sometimes desirable, when using a diagnostic instrument of the present type, to have a magnified view of the parts under observation. For this reason, a magnifying lens 3'5 is secured in a ring 36 and pivotally attached to the rear of the housing 2ll by a screw 31 so that it can be moved selectively in or out of the field of view.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I without departing from the spirit of myinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: I

1. A diagnostic instrument comprising a ham. dle, a speculum member carried by said'handle having one end adapted to engage in a cavity of the body, a light projecting member carried by said handle for projecting light through said speculum member toward said one end, and means for movably mounting-one of said members for arcuate movement relative to the other member about- --an axis; passing substantially through the said one end of the speculum substantially'perpendicular to the projected light.

2. A diagnostic instrument comprising a support, a tubular speculum having one end formed for engaging in a cavity 'of the body, said speculum being movably mounted on said support for swinging movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the' axis of the speculum and passing substantially through said one end, a source of light carried by said support and means for directing light from the source through the speculum to said end.

I 3. A diagnostic instrument comprising a support, an aural 'speculum'movably mounted on said support for swinging movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the speculum and passing'substantially through the smallend thereof, a source of light carried by said support, andm'eans for directing a beam of light from the source through the speculum to the small end thereof. a

4. A diagnostic instrument comprising a plate, a tubularspeculum secured to said plate and projecting forwardly therefrom, an arcuate bearing member secured to said plate, the axis of said arcuate bearing member substantially passing through the forward end of said speculum, a support having an arcuate groove for receiving the arcuate bearing member, a source of light carried by the support, and means for directing the light from the source through the speculum to the forward end thereof.

5. A diagnostic instrument comprising a support, a source of light carried by the support, means for directing a beam from the source of light along a predetermined axis, said support having an arcuate bearing member whose axis intersects the. axis of the beam of light at substantially a right angle, a plate having an arcuate bearing member complementary to the bearing member on said support, means for holding said bearing, members in bearing relation, and a tubular speculum carried by said plate and projecting forwardly therefrom, the forward end of said speculum being located at substantially the point of intersection of the axis of the light beam and the axis of the bearing member.

' 6. A diagnostic instrument comprising a handle, a flat support extending outwardly from said handle,'a source of light carried by said handle, means carried by said handle and projecting upwardly beyond said support for directing a beam of light from said source along an axis substantially parallel to said support, said support having an arcuate tapered groove whose axis substantially intersects the axis of thelight beam at substantially a right angle, a plate, an arcuate tapered projection on said plate complementary to said groove for slidably fitting in said groove, said plate being provided with an arcuate slot concentric with said projection, a screw secured on said support and extending upwardly through said slot, a nut threaded on said screw for looking the plate relative to said support, and a speculum secured on said plate so that its front end substantially coincides with the point of intersection of the axispof the light beam and the axis of the Slot.

ARTHUR F. DIT'I'MER. 

